NCERT Class 10 English – Footprints Without Feet – Chapter 1: A Triumph of Surgery
Exercise Questions: Short Answers & Simple Explanations
Q1. Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?
Answer: She thinks Tricki is seriously ill because he has become lazy and fat.
Explanation: Tricki was overweight, tired, and uninterested in activities, which worried Mrs Pumphrey.
Q2. What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?
Answer: She gives him extra food and treats, which is unwise.
Explanation: Overfeeding only made Tricki’s condition worse instead of helping him.
Q3. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
Answer: It refers to the narrator, a veterinary surgeon.
Explanation: The story is told by the vet who treated Tricki.
Q4. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress?
Answer: No, he is not.
Explanation: Mrs Pumphrey is shown as very wealthy, while the narrator lives a simple life.
Q5. How does he treat the dog?
Answer: He puts Tricki on a simple diet without medicine.
Explanation: He lets Tricki rest and play with other dogs, which helps him recover naturally.
Q6. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?
Answer: Because of the luxurious food and wine sent by Mrs Pumphrey.
Explanation: Mrs Pumphrey sent rich hampers regularly, which the narrator and his staff enjoyed.
Q7. Why does Mrs Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is “a triumph of surgery”?
Answer: She believes the vet performed a special medical treatment.
Explanation: In reality, Tricki recovered with simple care, but Mrs Pumphrey thought it was due to advanced surgery.
Q8. What kind of a person do you think the narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is? Would you say he is tactful as well as full of common sense?
Answer: He is caring, practical, and tactful.
Explanation: He handled Tricki’s problem with simple methods and avoided hurting Mrs Pumphrey’s feelings.
Q9. Do you think Tricki was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now?
Answer: Yes, he was happy to meet Mrs Pumphrey again.
Explanation: But if she continues overfeeding, he may fall ill again.
Q10. Do you think this is a real-life episode, or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both?
Answer: It is a mixture of both.
Explanation: Such situations happen in real life, but some details are exaggerated for humour.
Q11. This episode describes the silly behaviour of a rich woman who is foolishly indulgent, perhaps because she is lonely. Do you think such people are merely silly, or can their actions cause harm to others?
Answer: Their actions can cause harm.
Explanation: Overpampering can lead to health issues, as seen in Tricki’s case.
Q12. Do you think there are also parents like Mrs Pumphrey?
Answer: Yes, some parents overpamper their children.
Explanation: Excessive indulgence can make children unhealthy and dependent.
Q13. What would you have done if you were: (i) a member of the staff in Mrs Pumphrey’s household, (ii) a neighbour? What would your life have been like, in general?
Answer: (i) Advised her to feed Tricki less. (ii) As a neighbour, I would have seen her as a kind but overindulgent person.
Explanation: Observers could notice her unnecessary luxury and the dog’s overfeeding problem.
Q14. What would you have done if you were in the narrator’s place?
Answer: I would also use simple diet and exercise for Tricki’s recovery.
Explanation: This method is safe and effective for overweight pets.